The first-ever India-UK 2+2 Foreign and Defence Dialogue took place in New Delhi on October 16, 2023. The Indian delegation was co-chaired by Piyush Srivastava, Joint Secretary of Europe West at the Ministry of External Affairs, and Vishwesh Negi, Joint Secretary of International Cooperation at the Ministry of Defence. The UK delegation was co-chaired by Ben Mellor, India Director of the Indian Ocean Directorate at FCDO, and Lt. General Rob Magowan, Deputy Chief of Defence Staff responsible for Finance and Military Capability at the Ministry of Defence.
The 2+2 dialogue at the senior official level serves as a platform to comprehensively evaluate all facets of the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Both delegations expressed contentment with the consistent high-level political engagements and interactions that have offered direction and impetus to the multifaceted relationship between India and the UK. They were pleased with the advancements made across various domains outlined in the India-UK Roadmap 2030, encompassing political exchanges, economic collaboration, defence and security, people-to-people connections, as well as regional and multilateral cooperation.
The discussions also revolved around potential avenues for enhanced cooperation, with a particular focus on trade and investment, defence, critical and emerging technologies, civil aviation, healthcare, energy, culture, and the reinforcement of people-to-people ties. The officials exchanged insights into recent global developments, especially in the Indo-Pacific region, aligning with their shared vision for peace, stability, prosperity, and the promotion of a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific region. They explored the potential for increased collaboration in areas such as counterterrorism, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR), and maritime security.
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